Micah Toll

The LiveWire S4 Honcho hasn’t officially launched yet, but it may already be one of the most important electric motorcycles the company has ever developed.

As of early 2026, the S4 Honcho is still in the pre-release phase, with LiveWire indicating a likely launch sometime this year, potentially spring or summer. While full specifications and pricing haven’t been formally announced, the positioning is clear: this is definitely not going to be yet another premium, heavyweight electric motorcycle. It’s something very different.

And that’s exactly why it matters so much.

Merida is taking aim at the more budget-conscious end of the electric mountain bike market with the launch of its new ETMO range, described as the brand’s most price-focused Bosch-powered electric mountain bikes yet.

Of course for big eMTB names like Merida, the idea of “affordable” becomes something of a relative term.

Royal Enfield has offered a clearer timeline for its long-awaited first electric motorcycle. During a recent earnings call, CEO B. Govindarajan said the company’s new Flying Flea C6 is “almost ready for production” and that “you will see it in the next quarter time window,” signaling a launch that now appears set for early 2026.

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a fun new automatic shifting e-bike from Trek, a whole host of potential new e-bike laws from around the US, a study that shows the impacts of e-bike use on the brain, Fly mopeds get in more trouble, Honda has a new low-cost electric motorcycle design, and more.

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has filed a new ordinance that would ban delivery app drivers in the city from using e-bikes, mopeds, or other motorized scooters to make deliveries, citing growing safety concerns.

There’s one company that now sells nearly three-quarters of all full-size electric motorcycles in the US. And no, it’s not some scrappy startup out of Silicon Valley (though there are some very cool California-based electric motorcycle startups).

It’s actually LiveWire – the Harley-Davidson-born electric motorcycle spinoff that just claimed a 70% market share in the 50+ horsepower on-road electric motorcycle segment in 2025.

Federal regulators have ordered a recall of Fly E-Bike’s popular model known as the Fly 10 moped, marking the latest and perhaps most serious blow to the embattled micromobility company that has long been a major supplier of low-cost electric mopeds and e-bikes in the US.

From a fitness perspective, electric bikes are often framed as a way to make cycling easier on the legs or more accessible for people who might otherwise avoid riding. But new research suggests the biggest benefits of e-bikes for older riders may be happening somewhere else entirely: the brain.

Trek just pulled the covers off a new top-tier city e-bike aimed squarely at riders who want comfort, power, and polish without turning daily riding into a hobby that requires constant tinkering. The new Trek Charter+ arrives as Trek’s most premium everyday e-bike yet, blending high-end drivetrain tech, deep integration, and a strong focus on car-replacement practicality.

Across the US, the e-bike policy map is starting to look oddly contradictory. In some states, lawmakers are responding to the rise of high-powered, moped-like electric bikes by reaching for blunt instruments: licensing requirements, insurance mandates, registration schemes, and laws that effectively treat e-bikes like motorcycles. New Jersey’s recent move to scrap the widely adopted three-class system in favor of motor-vehicle-style regulation is a prime example of how quickly a state can go from “e-bikes are the future” to “please don’t ride one at all.”

There’s a growing consensus in the electric motorcycle world that the key to success when considering the constraints of today’s technology is to target smaller, simpler, more urban electric motorcycles. While much of today’s attention goes to high-tech, high-price electric motorcycles and e-bikes, the real opportunity for electrification may lie at the opposite end of the spectrum: ultra-simple, ultra-affordable machines designed for the masses.

Electric boats and ferries are starting to become more common, but they have typically been confined to short, fixed routes with expensive, purpose-built charging infrastructure. This week, Swedish electric boat maker Candela set out to prove that those limits are no longer necessary – and did so in record-setting fashion.

While some police departments in the US and around the world are busy chasing down illegal or reckless e-bike riders, others are taking a very different approach: if you can’t beat them, join them.

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a range of stories from new e-bike laws in New Jersey and Amsterdam, Rad Power Bikes getting bought out of bankruptcy, the clever way that e-bike batteries can be used for extra power during storms or even power a food truck, Honda’s new 50 MPH electric scooter, and more.

Years ago, UL certification was a niche detail in the e-bike industry, often buried deep in spec sheets if it was there at all. But today, it’s one of the most important labels in the entire e-bike industry – and now, it’s at the center of a major lawsuit involving counterfeit safety marks, Chinese manufacturers, and the world’s largest online retailer.

Just as the dust is settling from New Jersey’s widely criticized move to treat many electric bicycles more like motor vehicles, another state is floating a proposal that has riders and advocates shaking their heads.

Rad Power Bikes has officially found a buyer. Just over a month after entering the bankruptcy process, the once-dominant direct-to-consumer electric bike brand has reached an agreement to sell its assets.

Amsterdam is often held up as the gold standard for bicycle-friendly cities, but even in one of the most bike-centric places on Earth, not all e-bikes are being treated equally. The Dutch capital has announced plans to ban electric fat tire bikes from its most famous park, and city officials are openly discussing whether wider restrictions could follow.

When storms roll through and the power goes out, most people think about flashlights, candles, or portable power stations. But there’s a backup power source sitting in a lot of garages that often gets overlooked: your e-bike battery.

New York City’s food carts are part of the city’s soul. They’re loud, fast, fragrant, and everywhere – serving up everything from tacos to kebabs on street corners that somehow never sleep. But for all their charm, there’s one thing almost everyone agrees could disappear tomorrow without being missed: the rattling, smoky gas generators that keep those carts powered.

Now, in a twist that feels peak New York, some of those carts are starting to run on the same batteries that power the city’s e-bike delivery fleet.

Lectric doesn’t really do old-school sales. At least not the kind most of us think of when we hear the word. Sure, North America’s largest electric bike retailer, Lectric eBikes, has tons of great deals all year round. But the seasonal sales are often value bundles where the prices remain the same, but you get a ton of great accessories thrown in. Now for a limited time though, Lectric has launched an honest-to-goodness, save-you-some-real-money sale on America’s most popular electric bikes.

Heybike is best known for affordable commuter e-bikes, fat-tire cruisers, and city-friendly rides. But the company is now stepping well outside the bike lane with something very different. Meet the Villain – a compact electric e-moto that looks and rides far more like a Sur-Ron–style light electric dirt bike than anything you’d legally call an electric bicycle.

And crucially, it does so at a price point aimed at riders who want electric dirt-bike fun without dropping full-on motorcycle money.

New Jersey has just rewritten the rules on electric bikes – and not in a way most of the e-bike world was expecting.

Honda has been releasing new electric two-wheelers at an impressive clip over the last few years, making up for lost time. The company’s latest model, known as the Honda UC3, is soon headed for the Vietnam and Thailand markets.

But perhaps more interesting than the bike itself is Honda’s decision to use integrated batteries rather than its own in-house removable-battery standard.